Method of and apparatus for mining by slot cutting and dislodging



July 30, 1957 2,801,993

- J. F. JOY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MINING BY SLOT CUTTING AND DISLODGING 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. l, 194'? A mms/role.

By Jost-Pf? f.' Jay July 30, 1957 J. F. JOY

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MINING BY SLOT CUTTING AND DISLODGING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Filed Feb. l, 1947 rraE/VEV July 30, 1957 J. F. JOY

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MINING BY SLOT CUTTING AND DISLODGING Filed Feb. 1. 194'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. m x w \m. r n WN m bm y l. @mmm W6, /Q @m mw I 7 l|-|ll -IVMHI @N a R Nm mv @m m n* a, @W e o w Sm E Q www. s .u l w .Illlh IIHNl! IH N R i,| mm 1| 11 uw mm i l @mmm Uwwmwm QQ h.. NHV a w iw www :hi m Sw E Qm ab mm @N ,Q Q VWM G u mm. mma @n Nm QW, @W o ff/ mw R, w mw @QM/w .5mg A/ l,

BY. JOSE PH E JOY 'HTTORNEY July 30, 1957 .1. F. JOY

METHOD OF' AND APPARATUS FOR MINING BY SLOT CUTTING AND DISLODGING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. l, 194'? By Josep/1 E Joy MFM rroeA/Ey United States latent METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MINING BY SLOT CUTTING AND DISLODGING Joseph F. Joy, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 1, 1947, Serial No. 725,950

9 Claims. (Cl. 262-9) This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for mining and more particularly to methods of and apparatus for mining coal or the like in underground mines.

Mining apparatus of `the character of the present invention is designed completely to remove, by a unitary structure, the coal from the solid in a relatively continuous and uninterrupted manner. By reason of the extreme compactness of the apparatus and the novel structural features thereof and the novel relationship of its component parts, the machine is capable of use in connection with many established systems of mining, and more particularly is capable of meeting the space restrictions encountered in the longwall system of mining prevailing throughout many coal mining areas of the World. Because of the unusual diiculties confronted in the mechanization of coal production from longwall faces, the apparatus is shown applied to such a longwall system. Obviously, the application of the apparatus to the driving of rooms and entries such as prevails under the room and pillar system of mining where the space is not so restricted involves a much simpler problem.

The mining apparatus of the present invention, in a preferred embodiment, due to its novel relationship and combinations of component parts, is ideally suitable for the complete mechanical mining and transportation of coal from a given face, from both thick and `thin seams, and from relatively restricted areas resulting from close roof propping or timbering common to longwall coal faces. Also, due to its structural features and the novel relationship of the component parts, arranged in an extremely compact manner, the machine may be conveniently moved through the narrow and relatively restricted passageways common to most underground coal mines.

The present invention, from one aspect, relates to mining apparatus capable of effecting relatively continuous and uninterrupted mechanical mining of coal from a given face, and in the case of longwall mining, further is capable of performing all essential work encountered in the formation of a roadway or entry opening laterally of the line of the roof props or timbers. The apparatus of the present invention not only simplifies roof propping or timbering but also, due to its novel features of construction and combinations `of components parts, is operative completely to remove the coal from the solid without the use of explosives, thus providing easier, safer and healthier working conditions.

The present invention, from another and more specific aspect, relates to mining apparatus which is adapted to either right or left hand mining, and is so constructed that all mining operations necessary completely to remove the coal from the face may be carried on simultaneously as compared with the effecting of several mining operations in distinct steps as is common practice, including, among others, the separate steps of cutting, drilling, blasting and loading, thus reducing the time consumed in the complete removal of the coal from the solid, and greatly increasing coal production.. The present invention also Firaice contemplates the use of detachable cutter heads of a relatively simple and unitary design which may be quickly replaced as a unit by a new cutting head, thus minimizing the time consumed in the changing of worn or damaged cutters which, in accordance with conventional methods, consists of changing one cutter bit at a time, in a chain or bar type cutting head.

it is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide an improved method of and apparatus Vfor mining whereby the material to be mined is completely removed from the solid in a relatively continuous and uninterrupted manner. Another object is to provide improved apparatus for mining coal and improved methods of use thereof whereby the coal is effectively and rapidly removed from the coal face. Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved coal mining machine embodying improved structural features and novel relationships of component parts whereby the solid coal may be cut and dislodged from the coal face, and the dislodged coal may be conveyed from the face in a relatively continuous and uninterrupted manner and without the use of explosives. A further object is to provide an improved coal mining machine of an extremely compact design which is particularly adapted for use in the mining of coal in accordance with the longwall method and which, due to its compact design, may be readily transported through relatively restricted areas resulting from the close setting of roof props such as is common to longwall work. Still another object is to provide improved means for mining coal embodying coal cutting and dislodging mechanisms and conveying means for the dislodged coal, so arranged and constructed that the various mining operations may be carried on simultaneously, thus reducing the time consumed in the removal of the coal and greatly increasing production of coal. A further object is to provide improved methods of mining coal in a relatively continuous and uninterrupted manner and without the use of explosives. A still further object is to provide improved apparatus for mining and conveying coal embodying improved structural features and novel arrangements and combinations of parts. Other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 642,186, filed January 19, l946, now abandoned.

In the accompanying drawings, in which for purposes of illustration, an illustrative embodiment of the invention from its apparatus aspect is shown:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a mining machine and conveyor constructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, showing the machine in operating position in a mine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the mining machine and conveyor shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view in horizontal section showing the mining machine and conveyor in `operative position along a longwall coal face and showing the convey-or discharging onto a main entry conveyor.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the mining machine, with parts arranged in a compact manner for movement about the mine.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged h-orizontal sectional view through the mining machine, showing certain details of the drilling and cutter drive mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing a portion of the drill drive mechanism on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 7 -is a view, partially in plan and partially in horizontal section, illustrating the vforward scoop of the conveyor means, and with mechanismV omitted for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 8 8 of Pig. 7.

Fig'. 9 is a' view in'central Longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig'. 7. n this illustrative embodiment ofthe invention, there is shown coal miningeapparatus including a coal mining machine, generally designated 1, havingconveyor means, generallydesignatedl, associated therewith.V The'rnining machine shown herein is preferably of the longwall, vdoor type slidable von itsbottom over theoor of a mine; while the conveyorV means is ofthe type known as a shaker or jigg'ing conveyor: It will be evident, however, that various features of the invention may be incorporated in mining 'machines and associated with conveyor means [of other'types' i" l "The mining machine 1 herein comprises, as shown in Figs. land 2, a mainframe or bodywhich supports, at lits forwardV end, la pair of universally adjustable, coi acting kerf 4cutting devices 4, 4and a drilling and dislodging mechanism' 5. The frame or body 3 is supported on a Vbase or bottom skid 6 which rests upon and is slidable in vany direction over the floor of the mine. 'Car'- ried by this sliding vbase are pairs of upstanding roofengaging jacks 7, 7 andS, S, respectively positioned at the forward and rearward ends of the machine body for y'a purpose to be'later explained,` andthe machine body is suitably supported on the base as by the front jacks 7 and as by upstanding platelike side supports 9 arranged at therear sides of the machine body at the inner sides of the rear jacks, as shown most clearly in Figs. 7 and 8. The front roof jacks 7 ycomprise vertical'fluid cylinders 10 suitably ixed to the base and projecting upwardly along the sides of the machine body, and the latter has lateral lugs 11 suitably attached to these cylinders near their upper ends. Reciprocable in the cylinders are pistons having their piston rods 12- projecting upwardly through the top cylinderV heads and carrying, at their upper ends, roof-engaging abutments 13. Therear jacks 8 have vertical fluid cylinders 14 (Figs. 7 and 8) suitably fixed to longitudinally elongated, horizontal slides 15 guided in longitudinal guideways 16, herein formed at the. sides ofthe base 6 at the outer sides of the machine body.' Secured to the 'bottomsof the rear portions of bring the abutments 13 and`19 rmly into engagementY with the mine roof. Extending longitudinally at the sides of the base 6 are horizontal jacks or feed rams r26, comprising horizontal fluid cylinders 21 (see Fig. 7) arranged above the guideways 16 and suitably ixed to the base. Reciprocable in theseV cylinders are pistons 22 having their piston rods 23 Yprojecting rearwardly through'the rearY cylinder heads and suitably rigidly attached at 24 to the cylinders 14` of the rear roof jacks .8. When the rear roof=jacks 8 are held in Iirm engagement with the mine roof, with the bottom abutrnents 17V held irmly in engagement withfthe mine floor, and the front roof jacks 7 are released, therfeed cylinders 21 may be movedforwardly under the influence of pressure fluid relative to the then-stationary pistons 22 thereby to move the base 6 and the mechanism carried thereby, forwardly over the mine door toward the working face. When the front jacks 7 are held in firm engagement with the mine roof and the rear roof jacks VS l'are released, the pistons 22 may be moved forwardly under the iniluence of pressure uid. relative to the then-stationary cylinders 21 thereby to move the rear roof jacks again into their foremost position. When the slides 15 are in their extended position and are held-stationary by the rear roofthe cutting and dislodging cylinders' 21V` may vbe moved lrearwardly under the intiuence of pressure fluid relative to the then-stationary pistons, moving the base 6 and the mechanism carried thereby, rearwardly in a direction away from Vthe Working face. From the foregoing, it will be evident that the mining machine may be moved step by step either forwardly or rearwardly by suitable operations ofthe roof jacks and the horizontal feed jacks. This walkingbase structure is being claimed in my divisional application, Serial No. 405,894, led' `lanuaryl 25, Y1954. i

Now referring to the kerf cutting devices 4, 4 and the supporting and driving means therefor, it will be noted that pivotally mounted on the machine body 3 at the opposite sides of the drilling and dislodging mechanism- 5, as shown most clearly in Fig'. 5, are identical Swinging arms or boom frames 26, 26 which, at their outer extremities, support the kerf cutting devices.. The rearward ends of these boom frames are pivotallysupported by universal connections, herein preferably in the -form of ball and socket pivotalmountings 27, sohthat they may be swung freely into ydifferent angular positions with respect to the machine body. The boom frames are preferably of tubelike form, as illustrated, and at their rear ends are secured, as by threaded connections 28, to adjacent elements 29 which are herein the ball elements of the pivotal mountings. Extending axially through each of the tubelike boom frames is a transe mission shaft 30, and the'element v29 of each universal pivotal mounting carries a bearing 31 for the rearward portion of the shaft. Each shaft at its forward'portion is suitably journaled in bearings 32 arranged within the forward end of the boom frame. The kerf cuttingy devices 4, 4 are identical in design and each comprises a tapered body 33 having its rearward portion suitably mounted on the boom frames and suitably connected to the transmission shaft. ln this instance, each cutter body is threaded at 34 onto the forward projecting end of the transmission shaft and is preferably formed with a polygonal portion 35 whereby it may be readily detached from the shaft. The cutting devices may be4 readily detached from the shafts 30 simply by rotating them relative to the shafts in a direction opposite to the direction of cutter rotation during cutting, in an obvious man- Y ner. Each cutter body is provided with spirally arranged vanelike projections 36 which are cut away along certain portions to provide cutting teeth 37.V It willV be evident that the cutting devices may be supported and driven in other manners and that the cutting teeth may be formed on the cutter bodies by other known methods. The machine body 3 comprises a casing 4t) which encloses a motor 41, herein preferably an electric motor, which has a spur pinion 42 fixed to itsrpower shaft 43. Meshing with the spur pinion 42 at the opposite sides thereof and driven thereby are Vspur gears 44 suitably journaled on shafts 45 supported by the machine body. The gears 44 mesh with and drive spur gears 46 supported by shafts 47 journaled within bearings 48 suitably supported within the sides of the machine body. These shafts are longitudinally disposed and are arranged in parallel relation, as shown in Fig. 5. Secured to the gears 46 and driven thereby are shafts 49 for connecting thereto elements of universal joints 50, the latter having other elements thereof connected to the transmission shafts 30. The universal pivotal mountings are arranged centrally'within the universal pivotal mountings 27 so that irrespective'of the angular positions ofthe boom frames 26, the drive between the shafts 49 and the transmission shafts 3i) is maintained. It is accordingly evident that when the motor 41 is running, the kerf cutting devices may be concurrently rapidly rotated in the same direction and at the same angular speeds. The boom frames 26 which support the cutting devices' may be swung about their pivotal mountings in various manners, and herein swinging thereof in a Vgenerally hori-v asciuga zontal direction is effected by fluid cylinders 52 which are universally pivotally connected at 53 to the outer sides of the socket elements 54 of the ball and socket pivotal mounn'ngs 27. Reciprocable in these cylinders are pistons 55 which have their piston rods 56 projecting forwardly through the front cylinder heads, and pivotally connected at their forward ends at 57 to lateral lugs 58, herein secured to the outer sides of the boom frames 26. The boom frames may be swung in a generally vertical direction by uid cylinders 60 universally pivotally connected at 61 at their rear ends to the bottoms of the socket elements 54, as shown in Fig. l. Reciprocable in these cylinders are pistons 62 having their piston rods 63 projecting forwardly through the front cylinder heads and pivotally connected at their forward ends at 64 to depending lugs 65 suitably secured to the bottoms of the boom frames. The pistons in the cylinders 52 and 60 may be moved under the inlluence of pressure fluid in the cylinders to eect swinging of the boom frames in the desired manner about their pivotal mountings, thereby to provide the desired movement of the kerf cutting devices 4 in a manner to be later referred to. It is accordingly evident that the boom frames may be swung variable distances both horizontally and vertically and may be operated completely to circumscribe `an area of coal to be dislodged, and the area may vary in height and width due to the variable range of swing of the boom frames.

The drilling and dislodging mechanism 5, as shown most clearly in Figs. and 6, is arranged centrally of the machine body and comprises a wedge 67 having a tapered body 68, herein detachably secured, as by a threaded connection 69, to a tubular shaft 70. The shaft 70 is mounted for axial movement and has longitudinal splineways 7l which are engaged by splines 72 carried by an outer tubular drive shaft 73. The shaft 73 is suitably enclosed within a tubular housing 74 and has Ia reduced rearward portion 75 suitably journaled within bearings supported by a bearing support 76 secured to the machine body, Fixed to the rearward portion of the shaft 73 is an internal gear 77, and formed integral with and driven by the spur gears 44 are spur gears 78 which mesh with and drive the internal gear. In this instance, positioned between a collar 79 integral with the forward portion of the shaft 70 and the rear end of the wedge body 68 is a transverse plate 80 relative to which the shaft is rotatable. If desired, suitable bearings rnay be arranged between the shaft collar 79 and the wedge body at the opposite sides of the plate 80, to absorb end thrust. Secured to the opposite sides of this plate at 81 are the forward ends of piston rods 82 which project rearwardly through the front cylinder heads and have feed pistons 83 secured to their rear ends. The pistons 83 are reciprocable in horizontal fluid cylinders 84, 84, herein arranged in parallel relation at the opposite sides of the tubular housing 74 and suitably secured to the latter.

Associated with portions of the drive shaft 73 for the wedge 67 is a conventional torque clutch S5 which serves the dual purpose of prevention of overload of the driving gearing and associated connections as well as that of providing means for building up av predetermined coal breaking pressure or stress load within the coal prior to the kerf cutting operations. rThe `application of a preloading pressure yor stress load within the coal, prior to the kerf cutting operations involved in the formation of a kerf completely about the area in which the predetermined pressure or stress has been established, has the effect of breaking down the coal structure to where the coal thus produced may be caused to conform to whatever sizes become desirable, and such preloading of the coal will be found particularly desirable in seams of coal tending to break away in excessively large lumps. In this construction, the shaft 73 is preferably made in two parts, and the torque clutch is vconnected between the shaft parts. `When the coal dislodging wedge meets a predetermined opposition to its rotation during the dislodging operation, the torque clutch will automatically slip to prevent overloading of the parts. It is further obvious that this arrangement permits the introduction of the coal dislodging wedge into the coal face and the building up of a preloading coal breaking pressure or stress load in the coal, according to the setting of the torque clutch, either prior to or simultaneously with the kerf cutting operations.

Again referring to the specific structure of the drilling and dislodging mechanism 5, it will be observed that arranged centrally within an axial bore 86 in the wedge body 68 is a drill auger 87 having a drill bit 83 at its forward end in advance of the wedge, and this drill auger is detachably connected, as by a threaded connection 89, within the forward portion of an axially movable shaft 90. The forward end of this shaft is journaled in a bearing 91 supported within the forward portion of the tubular shaft 70 and has longitudinal splineways 92 which are engaged by splines 93 carried by a tubular shaft 94. The shaft 94 is arranged centrally within the tubular shaft 70 and has a reduced rearward portion 95 journaled in a bearing 96 supported within the rearward portion of the tubular shaft 73, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Fixed to the rear end of the shaft portion is a spur gear 97 meshing with and driven by the spur gears 78, as shown in Fig. 5. It will thus be seen that during running of the motor 41 the wedge 67 may be rotated at a relatively slow speed and the drill auger 87 may be concurrently rotated relative to the wedge at a relatively high drilling speed, and during rotation of the wedge and drill auger the feed pistons 83 may be moved under the influence of pressure uid in the feed cylinders 84 to feed the wedge and drill auger either toward or from the work. During such feeding movement of the wedge and drill auger, the drive between the motor 41 and the wedge and drill auger is maintained by the splined telescopic shafts in an obvious manner. The tapered body 68 of the wedge has spiral vanes of a screw type tooth construction so that as the drill auger is ad vanced to drill a hole in the coal, the following wedge enters the whole formed by the auger bit and the wedge, due to its construction, imparts a powerful dislodging pressure to the coal in a manner to be later more fully described. The cuttings from the auger bit are conveyed rearwardly through the central opening 86 in the wedge, and the latter is traversed by holes 98 to provide for egress of these cuttings. The drill and breaker wedge mechanism per se is being claimed in my divisional application, Serial No. 407,065, led January 29, 1954.

The conveying means 2 which operates in conjunction with the mining machine is being claimed in my copending continuation-inpart application, Serial No. 20,252, dled April l0, 1948, now patent No. 2,713,414, and cornprises a coal receiving and directing scoop 175 which is shown most clearly in Fig. 7, and this scoop is arranged centrally along the top of the machine base 6 in the space beneath the machine body, and the machine base has a forwardly projecting, forwardly tapered plate portion 176 which underlies the scoop 175. The scoop 175 is slidably guided for reciprocatory motion on the top of the base plate, with its forward end preferably slidably supported as at 177 on the mine iioor in advance of the machine base. This scoop is preferably formed of sheet metal, having certain inherent flexibility, and is provided with upstanding sides or side board portions 178 for directing the dislodged coal rearwardly along the scoop above the machine base and for moving the coal rearwardly along the conveyor means. Forward side portions or side wings 179 of the scoop are hinged at 180 to the forward central this instance, overlie the central scoop -portionltl and at their rearA endsuare vprovidedA with projections which engage the upstanding side walls 178 when the scoop-portions '179 are in their spread-apart position, as shown in 7, thereby to limit .outwardl swinging movement thereof. The conveying meansrinvcludes a shaker or jigging conveyor, generally designated 185, which .comprises a flexible steel band 186, the forward end 187 .of which is secured, as by riveting, to a reinforcing plate ISS. T his plate is formed with a suitable keyhole aperture 189 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9*) for receiving a head. 191i of a rivet 191 secured to the'rearward portion of ,the reciprocatory ,scoop 17S. By meansof this keyhole aperture kin the reinforcing Aplate `of the conveyoriband, the latter maybe detachably secured to the scoop, and may be readilydetachedfl, hescoop,

when desired. The reinforcing-plate 188y and the forward portion 187offthe conveyor bandare arranged horizontallybetween-the top of the machinebase and beneath the rear discharge end of-thes'coop 175 so thatY the d islodgedV coalmoved rearwardly along` the scoop .is discharged o nto the conveyor band. The conveyor band 186 Yextends rearwardly from the mining machine along the mine door in parallelism with the longwall coal face, as shown inFig. y3, and the rear end of the conveyor band is Wound upon a `drum 192 which has side ilanges 193 to confine the wound portion of the conveyor band on the drum. The winding drum is suitably rotatably supported by end bearing brackets 194 supported by a base 19S,

. the latter preferably resting on the mine door. An anchor jack 196 is pivotally connected to the base 195 and is engageable with the mine roof firmly torhold the Winding drum mechanism in a stationary position. A fluid cylinder mechanism or so-called air spring'211 (Figs. 7 and 9) is associated with the winding drum mechanism as disclosed inmy Patent No. 2,713,414, datedluly 19, 1955,

' and this air spring serves to move the conveyor band along the scoop and rearwardly along .the conveyor band toward a main entry or so-called motherfconyeyor 236, which, as seen in Figs. l, 2 and 3, is located transversely to the conveyor band 186 and, as shownzinlFigrB, travels in a direction toward the mine opening. Y

They general mode of operation of the 'improved mining Vand conveying means is as follows: InFig. 3 the machine is diagrammatically shown as operating inaccordance with the longwall system of mining 'and' the working face is designated F and the longface Lis designated L. Under the longwall conditionsrshown, Voperations begin with the mining machine located Yin a previ# ously prepared starting'stall S at the gate end of the longwall face near the main belt or mother Aconveyor 236, with the latter extending along the gangway or main entry to a point beyond the stall S. The winding mechanism for the conveyor band 186 is located on the gang- Way directly rearward of the mining machine'at the remotev side of the main belt conveyor 236 in the manner shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, with the base 19S of the winding mechanism firmly held in position by the roof jack 196. The conveyor band 186 is extended from the bottom of the winding drum 192 forwardlyacross the top of the belt conveyor, and the'fo'rward end .of the conveyor band is attached,rby the keyhole slot l and rivet connection 139, 191, to the rear end of the reciprocatory mechanism 5 in its retracted position, as shown in Fig.

5. When the mining machine is so located with respect to the coal face, 'the duid cylinders 14 of the rear jacks 8 may Ybe operated to engage the jacks with the mine roof, vthereby* to hold the slides 15 in a stationary position .with the bottom yabutrnents 17 Vfirmly engaging the lmine floor. The fluid cylinders 52 .and-60 may then 'be operated, underV the control of the valves 128, 129, 130` and 131, to swing the boom frames 26 yinwardly and downwardly to locate the ker-f cutting devices 4, 4 near together at starting position near the horizontal center of the Working' face Fat the level of the mine oor. When ,the kerf cutting devices are so positioned and with the rear roof jacks firmly engaged and the kerf cutting devices rapidly Vrotatingthe feed cylinders 2 1 may be con-- currently operated to feed the Vmachine 'bodily toward the working kface F Vto sump the kerf cutting devices their full depth within :the coal. When the kerf cutting devices have penetrated full.depth,the uid cylinders 10 ofthe front jacks`7 are operated to engage the jacks with the mine roof, .thereby to holdthe machine in a stationary position;v and the fluid `cylinders 52 may then be concurrently operated to swing the boom-frames outwardly to move the kerf cutting devices horizontally away'from each other to form kerfs at the floor level across the full width of the working face F. Whenthe transverse kerfs have been completed -across the full width of the Working face, lateral movement of the kerf cutting devices is discontinued and the fluid cylinders 60 are concurrently operated Vtoswing the boom frames upwardly to move the kerf cutting devices in a vertical di- Vrection from the mine floor to the mine roof to cut Vertical kerfs at the sides of the `working face F.Y When the kerf cutting devices are positioned at the mine roof, up-

ward swinging thereof is discontinued andthe uid cylin-V ders Y5.2 arel again operated to swing the boom frames inwardly to move the kerf cutting devices horizontally ,to-V ward one another to cut kerfs along the mine roof Vuntil they substantially meet near Vthe horizontal center of the working face, thus completing the cutting cycle. During the kerf cutting Operation, and vwhile the machine is held again be movedto Vstarting position as above described.V

By proper loperation,ofthe fluid cylinders Vi2 and 69, the kerfs'may be cutie-.formr cores or coal projections of any desired shape and of Vvariable height and width, or a kerf may be cut by only one of the vkerf cutting devices, if so desired.

Simultaneously with the kerfV cutting operations or subsequent thereto, the feed cylinders 84 may be operated to advance the' auger drill S7 and wedge 67,as the same .are rapidly rotated, toward the workingface to cause the drill to form a hole in the coal substantially centrally of the core or coal projection which is bounded by the kerf, and as the hole is formed, the small end of the wedge enters the hole. As the rotating wedge is forced forwardly into the coal by the feed cylinders 84, it exerts a tremendous coal breaking pressure or dislodging stress on the projecting core ofA coal in radial directions toward the kerf bounding the core, thereby to break awayorrdisiodge the coal. ifldesired, the coal dislodging wedge 67 may be forced into the coal face prior to the freeing of the coal at its boundaries .by thepcutting of kerfs at the bottom, sides and Ytop of the working face, and when the wedge is so employed, the torque clutch 85 provides for building up Aof a predetermined coal dislodging vPressure or coal breaking stress within the coal face so that when the boundariesvoffthecoal are freed by the -kerf cutting I' devices yin` the manner above de-` acerbes scribed, the coal is broken away in lumps of controlled size, thereby reducing the undesirable tendency of the coal breaking away in excessively large lumps. Thus the coal dislodged from the working face may be caused to conform, within certain limits, to whatever sizes become desirable. It is further obvious that in this arrangement the torque clutch permits the insertion of the coal dislodging wedge 67 into the coal face and the building up of a dislodging pressure or stress therein, according to the setting of the torque clutch either prior to or simultaneously with the kerf cutting operation.

Prior to the cutting and dislodging operations above described, the side wings 179 of the front conveyor scoop 175 may be moved to their outward Wide apart position, as shown in Fig. 7, and as the mining machine is fed forwardly by the feed cylinders 21, the scoop 175 is moved toward the working face into a position wherein it digs beneath the loose coal on the mine oor and where it may receive the coal dislodged from the working face; and 1as the scoop is advanced toward the working face, the conveyor band 186 is extended along the mine floor by the unwinding thereof from the winding drum 192 of the winding mechanism. During the mining and loading operation, the conveyor band 186 and front scoop 175 are reciprocated at a relatively slow speed in a rearward direction and at a relatively high speed in a forward direction so that the loose coal is moved rearwardly with a shaking or jigging action. As the coal is moved rearwardly along the conveyor band and it reaches the main entry or gangway, it is deflected onto the main belt or mother conveyor 236. The winding drum 192 moves the conveyor band rearwardly at a relatively loW speed, and when the conveyor band reaches the end of its rearward stroke the air spring mechanism 211 on the mining machine moves the conveyor band rapidly forwardly. Accordingly, during the cutting and dislodging operations, the conveyor is automatically extended with the advance of the mining machine and is constantly shaking or jigging the dislodged coal rearwardly along the conveyor band 136 toward the main belt conveyor 236, and when the end of the coal wall is reached, the mining machine may be returned to its starting point by the winding in of the conveyor band 186 onto the winding drum 192.

If desired, instead of starting the initial sumping cuts at the floor level, sumping of the kerf cutting devices may be effected at the roof level and the cutting devices may be moved horizontally outwardly along the roof, then downwardly along the opposite sides of the working face and then horizontally inwardly along the floor level. The depth of the kerf cut in the coal depends largely on the distance of the mining machine with respect to the coal face F and the extent of the inclination of the keri:` cutting devices. Either during or following the kerf cutting operations, the auger and Wedge mechanisms may be extended, the auger drilling a hole centrally of the core defined by the boundaries of the kerf and the wedge following up, rotating more slowly than the drill, and by reason of its screw type tooth construction, entering the hole drilled by the auger and exerting a tremendous coal dislodging pressure to the coal sutiicient to break down the most stubborn mass of coal.

During transport of the mining machine through the relatively restricted passageways of the mine either by operation of the conveyor band 186 or when the conveyor band is detached from the conveyor scoop 175, the kerf cutting devices 4, the drilling and dislodging wedge mechanism 5, and the side wings 179 of the conveyor scoop 175 `are positioned in the extremely compact manner shown in Fig. 4 so that there is no danger of damage to either the mining machine, timbering or mine walls by movement of the machine. When the conveyor band is detached from the machine, the front and rear roof jacks 7 and 3 and the feed cylinders 21 may then be operated to walk the mining machine step by step over the iioor of a mine, and by reason of the sepa rately operable feed cylinders 21, a certain amount of steering movement of the machine in a lateral direction may be eected. By the provision of separate controls for the rear roof jacks greater iexibility of steering may be obtained, for example, by operating a feed cylinder 21 and rear jack at one side of the machine thereby to turn the machine horizontally. Thus the machine may be moved forwardly or rearwardly along the mine floor and turned horizontally either to the right or to the left, as desired.

As a result of this invention, an improved mining and conveying apparatus is provided which is designed completely to remove the coal from the solid, in a relatively continuous and uninterrupted manner and without the use of explosives. it will further be evident that by the provision of the improved kerf cutting devices and their supporting and adjusting structures, kerfs may be cut completely about the boundary of the working face to form a coal projection or core attached to the solid only at its inner side; and by the provision of the im proved coal dislodging wedge, a tremendous dislodging pressure may be applied centrally of the core of coal or coal projection to dislodge the coal. By the provision of the cutter supporting booms which have variable swing, both horizontally and vertically, coal projections of variable shapes may be formed thus to enable the formation of mine passageways of varying height and Width. It will further be evident that by the provision of the improved conveying means which operates in conjunction with the coal mining machine, the coal is etfectively removed from the face as it is dislodged. Also, the conveying means may be advanced toward the working face concurrently with the advance of the mining machine, and the mining machine embodies elements for guiding parts of the conveyor mechanism and for controlling and effecting certain operations of the conveying means. By the provision of the improved mining machine and conveying means, the several mining operations may be carried on simultaneously, thereby to provide for continuous production of coal from a given wall. It will further bevnoted that the improved apparatus for mining and conveying coal embodies elements which may be used either separately or collectively in connection with the mining 0f coal. rihe kerf cutting mechanism is in itself a universal type of cutter capable of many uses. The conveyor and scoop may be operated as an extensible and retractible unit in the loading and transporting of all kinds `of material, or the conveyor may be Voperated without the scoop in the conveying of material. Other manners of use and advantages of the improved mining and conveying apparatus will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described one embodiment which the invention, from its apparatus aspect, may assume in practice and one mode of practice of the invention, from its method aspect, it will be understood that this invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms and operated in accordance with other methods without departing from its spirit or the scope -of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mining machine comprising, in combination, a portable base movable over the floor of a mine, slot cutting means for cutting a laterally elongated, non-circular slot extending inwardly of the face of a mine Vein to be mined, said slot extending along a closed path surrounding a core of mineral of varying width and height and of a shape in cross section corresponding to that of said path and extending in a vertical direction between the roof and floor of the mine passageway, said slot cutting means including a pair of cooperating, relatively and oppositely movable slot cutting devices, means on said base for mounting said slot cutting devices for independent VVI1 adjustment relative to said base and to each other and means for independently adjusting said slot cutting devices laterally and vertically on said mounting means to cut slots bounding opposite, substantiallyrequal portions of an area defining the mineral to be removed and coacting to join said slots so that the defined area is completely free at its margin, a force applying mechanism, means for mounting said mechanism on said base'for bodily Y movement relative to the latter and to said slot cutting means for engaging the core of mineral surrounded by said slot to apply a powerful dislodgingforce to the core of mineral independently of bodilymovement of the ma.- chine at a position intermediate Vthe opposed sides and ends of said path sufficient to break up the mineral between the slot and the place where the force is applied,- and motor operated means on said base for driving said slot cutting means and said force applying mechanism.

2. A mining machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each slot cutting device and its mounting means comprises an elongated boom frame universally pivotally mounted on said base andV projecting forwardly in advance of said base, a rotary cutting device carried at the outer extremity of said boom frame and arranged with its axis of rotation in coincidence with the longitudinal axis of said boom frame, devices for feeding said cutting device forwardly toward the mineral to be mined to sump said'cutting device into a mineral, and devices for swinging said boom frame tomove said cutting device both laterallyrand vertically upwardly .and down'- wardly. Y

3. A mining machine as claimed in claim 1, charac- V terized in that said force applying mechanism is carriedrv by said `base adjacent to said slot cutting devices' and that said force applying mechanism lies within the path of movement of said slot cutting devices.

4. A mining machine of thecharacter disclosed comprising a supporting frame, kerf cuttingmeans comprising a pair of cooperating relatively and oppositely movable cutting devices for cutting out a non-circular core of mineral from a solid mine vein to provide a mine passageway of greater width than its height, motor operated driving means for said kerf cutting means including a motor driven gear, gearings driven by said gear .and operatively connected to said cutting devices respectively, rotatable wedge means for applyinga powerful dislodging force to the core of mineral to dislodge the latter including a rotatable wedge-shaped breaker member, and gearing driven by elements of said driving gearings for said cutter devices for rotating said wedge-shapedbreaker member.

5. A mining machine comprising, in combination, a

portable base movable over the floor of a mine,'slot cutting means for cutting a laterally elongated, non-circular slot extending inwardly of the face of a mine vein to be mined, said slot extending along a closed path surrounding a core of mineral of varying width and height and of a shape in cross section corresponding to that of said path and extendingin a vertical direction between the roof and floor of a mine passageway, means for mounting said slot cutting means on said base for bodily movelment with respect'thereto to effect its slot cutting operation, said slot cutting means being adjustable on its mountingmeans and being adapted to cut the slot along a noncircular pathrwhich coincides with the area of the face to be rnined,rsuch face extending `between the roof' and door ievels, and said slot forming a core of mineral which is completely free at its margin and attached to the solid 12 forming means and said force applying mechanism, said slot cutting means comprising a pair of cooperating slot cutting elements movable concurrently in relatively opposite directions to cut out the core of mineral, and power operatedv means for separately moving said cutting elements to cutslots ofvarying lateral extent and height in the mine vein to formmineral-cores of different widths and heights. y

6. In combination, core cutting means movable, in an orbital path to effect the formation of a core of mineral in a mine vein, a drill for centrally drilling a hole in the core as the core is formed, and a breaker wedge coaxial'with said drill and movable axially relative to saidcoreforming means for applying a dislodging pressure to the core of mineral for dislodging the core from the solid vein.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein power operated means is provided for imparting a power- Aful axial thrust to said breaker wedge and for retracting said wedge. Y

8. The combination, ina mining apparatus, comprising mechanism for engaging the mineral of a solid mine vein for building up a tremendous predetermined dislodging pressure Within a section of mineral of the vein, and kerf Y cutting means movable in an orbital path surrounding said mineral engaging mechanism for cutting a kerf surrounding said section of mineral to relieve the latter at its margin, and said predetermined built-up dislodging Y pressure within said sectionV of mineral causing dislodgement of such section with a bursting action as the margin of said section is relieved as aforesaid, saidmineral engaging mechanism, extending forwardly in advance of Y vein comprising the steps of applying to and building upV p a powerful predetermined dislodging pressure in `a secmine veinonly at `its inner face, mechanism on said tion of the mineral of a mine vein, and/thereafter cutting' a kerf in the form of a slot surrounding Vsaid section of mineral in which the predetermined dislodging pressure has been built up thereby to free said section of mineral at its margin to cause said predetermined dislodging pressure applied to said section of mineral to burst the latter to effect dislodgment of the section from the mine vein.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,071,270 Snelling Aug. 26, 1913 1,116,357 Morgan Nov. 3, 1914 1,148,973 Kuhn et al. Aug. 3, 1915 1,175,071 Morgan Mar. 14, 1916 V1,184,358 Kuhn et al. May 23, 1916 1,273,869 l'oy July 30, 1918 1,326,480 Dana Dec. 30, 1919 1,445,085 Ioy Feb. 13, 1923 1,445,087 Joy Feb. 13, 1923 `1,519,147 Levin Dec. 16, 1924 1,603,621 McKinlay Oct. 19, 1926 1,604,701 Levin Oct. 26, 1926 1,614,287 Davis Jan. l1, 1927 1,639,050 Morgan Aug. 16, 1927 1,726,963 McKinlay Sept. 3, 1929 1,762,154 Blair July 10, 1930 1,776,799 VogeleyY Sept. 30, 1930 1,953,327 Morgan Apr. 3, 1934 1,962,334 Vodoz Iune 12, 1934 1,963,039 Vodoz lune l2, 1934 2,015,677 Holmes Oct. 1, 1935 2,093,568 McFarland Sept. 21, 1937 Noble Mar. 21, 1939 (Other Vreferences on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,399,074 Joy July 29, 1941 2,420,755 Simmons Ian. 13, 1942 Levin Apr. 28 1942 5 105,288 Nyborg Nov. 14, 1944 145,047

Storrs Dec. 11, 1945 14 Tibbals Apr. 23, 1946 Mavor May 20, 1947 FOREIGN 'PATENTS France Oct. 26, 1874 Great Britain Ian. 6, 1921 

